Italians Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner caused a major surprise when they seized Olympic gold in the men’s luge doubles on Wednesday, ending Germany’s three Games-long hold on glory.
Italy also won the inaugural women’s doubles earlier, bringing the host nation’s tally to four golds across all sports so far in Milan/Cortina.
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Rieder said: “No words, I’ve lost my voice now. I’ve been screaming too much. I’m super happy.”
Six-times Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt could only finish with bronze in a tightly packed men’s field. The German pair boasted three straight doubles golds and three successive team relay golds at Winter Games.
But Wendl, 38, was ecstatic with bronze despite their long reign ending after such close racing.
“It’s impossible to put into words. This bronze medal means everything to us – almost more than the other medals, because it was so important,” he said.
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Austrian duo Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl secured silver, 0.068 seconds adrift of the Italians. Steu had scooped bronze four years’ ago in Beijing.
US duo Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa took a shock lead after a track record in the first run but errors second time around left them sixth.
Gold dedicated to dead friend
Rieder and Kainzwaldner had never won a race together previously at Olympics, world championships or the World Cup. But the roar of a home crowd spurred them up as they went from sixth at Beijing 2022 to gold medallists in Cortina.
Kainzwaldner said: “We knew already in training that we go fast. We had a good flow and a good feeling. Being at home … it’s unbelievable.
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“A few weeks ago, one of my friends died, and I knew that today he was on the sled with me and we won. He was just 29 years old.”
There was men’s success for Germany on Sunday when Max Langenhan won the singles gold.
Start record pushes Italian women to glory
Italian duo Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer earlier zoomed to victory in the inaugural Olympic luge women’s doubles.
“Actually, we were not so nervous,” Vötter said. “We enjoy to stay here with all the fans, people and family, and we made some really good runs.”
While women could theoretically have competed in doubles at previous Winter Games given it was an open category, no female luger did.
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A women’s doubles was introduced to this year’s Olympics to achieve equality, having already existed in world championships and World Cups. Eleven sleds all from different nations took part, with none of the women from Tuesday’s individual final won by Germany’s Julia Taubitz competing.
The Italians led after the first run thanks to a start record and ended up with a combined 1 minute 46.284 seconds after the second and final run.
German pair Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina took silver, 0.120 back, and Austrian world champions Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp placed third.
The sliding centre in Cortina was built quickly by Italian organizers after the International Olympic Committee had wanted to hold sliding events at these Games abroad for cost reasons.
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Given the controversy, the track is holding up well and producing fast but so far safe races.
Oberhofer said: “Thanks to everyone that have supported us and made this track. Thank you, because without you none of this would be possible. I’m overwhelmed with emotions.”
The team relay completes the luge events in Cortina on Thursday.
Italy’s Vötter added: “We have a good team, the fastest team, and so we’re really happy also to compete tomorrow.”
Italy’s Andrea Voetter (L) and Marion Oberhofer celebrate with the gold medal at the award ceremony after the women’s doubles second round competition of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Sliding Center. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Italy’s Emanuel Rieder (L) and Simon Kainzwaldner celebrate their victory after the men’s doubles second round competition of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Sliding Center. Robert Michael/dpa
(L-R) Germany’s second placed Magdalena Matschina and Dajana Eitberger, Italy’s winner Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer and Austria’s third placed Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp celebrate after the women’s doubles second round competition of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Sliding Center. Robert Michael/dpa